the looming spending cuts and tax increases known as the fiscal cliff must be fixed within the next five days. thank you, brian, for accepting this challenge. i'm here to help you in any way i can. while there are other talented leaders in hawaii who stepped forward and who would also have been excellent appointees, i know that my colleagues will join me in supporting senator bryan schatz for the good of hawaii. throughout my 36-year career in congress, the hawaii delegation has always been unified. we have always put hawaii first before our individual ambition. we must continue that. hawaii comes first. i have followed brian schatz's career for many years. he was an active member of the hawaii statehouse of representatives for eight years before becoming c.e.o. of helping hands hawaii, a nonprofit organization that provides human services in the islands. as lieutenant governor, he has been a big part of the community. he has been an outspoken supporter of our troops and veterans and defender of our environment. senator schatz will be a strong, progressive voice for hawaii in the united